January 2, 2010 I have worked with City Commissioner Phil Anderson over the past two years to try to rid our local politics of the extreme political dogma now embedded in our policies and priorities. Phil “beat me” to win his seat on the City Commission and I have always respected his thoughtfulness and concern. Phil seems to be guided by influences other than his own convictions. After considering the wisdom of asking the voters to approve super majority voting requirements by the City Commission to change the current Comprehensive Plan, Phil told me he had decided a super majority…
What to do? What to do?
The fighting in Winter Park over commercial redevelopment, “McMansions,” the commuter rail stop, and all things obstructionist and isolationist continues to take its toll on our willingness to face reality. While our tax base withers and our revenues fall Beth Dillaha, Margie Bridges, and Phil Anderson sit on our City Commission and spend all their time discussing conservation districts, historical districts, killing the commuter rail agreement with Orange County, the “Hometown Democracy” referendum, imposing super majority voting requirements, and applauding themselves for stopping everything in their path. A few months ago Bill Donegan, Orange County Property Appraiser, made a presentation…
Super Duper Too
November 22, 2009 See also: Super Duper, We Get What We Deserve, Recommendations…, Chamber of Commerce Opposes Charter Amendment #10 Tomorrow, November 23, 2009, our City Commission will vote on including a Charter Amendment in a voter referendum requiring a super majority vote of the City Commission to make changes to the Comprehensive Plan. Interested citizens should understand the implications of this proposed Charter Amendment. I encourage citizens to speak to the City Commission tomorrow at 3:30 PM to object to putting this amendment to a voter referendum. We already have super majority voting in the Charter that requires a…
Possible Winter Park Green Space Foundation
Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Goldman has stood up to help our city plan and execute the expansion of green space in Winter Park. I wrote Steve the following letter to encourage his leadership and to make sure the circumstances involving the USPS property on New York Avenue are fully and accurately considered. ****************************************************** November 11, 2009 Steve, I am sorry you did not accept my invitation to talk. I fully support the creation of the Winter Park Green Space Foundation. I elaborate on this below. All the people of Winter Park will be indebted to you if your group…
Do We Live In Carmel, California?
I have spent time in Carmel by the Sea, California and it is a wonderful town. I would want Jack Rogers running their Planning and Zoning Commission if I lived in Carmel. Carmel by the Sea is bordered by the sea on the coast of California, 330 miles North of Los Angeles and 120 South of San Francisco. Carmel has a population of slightly more than 4,000 in a total area of 1.1 square miles. Carmel is located in Monterey County. The county has a population of slightly more than 400,000 people in a total area of 3,700 square miles….
Guess what I am?
October 26, 2009 You have to give Beth Dillaha credit. She certainly knows how to avoid the substance of issues and use her position on the podium to get the last word in to discredit those who would challenge the rightness of her limited policy and priority perspective. At today’s City Commission meeting she made note of one “professional blogger” as an example of the limited input the City has received after sending out 14,000 mailers announcing proposed Land Development Codes. She even managed to lop the “professional blogger” in with those who would comment about how dangerous the code…
Recommendations Regarding P&Z, Comprehensive Plan, and Land Development Code
October 26, 2009 TO: Mayor and City Commissioners – City of Winter Park RE: Recommendations Regarding P&Z, Comprehensive Plan, and Land Development Code The Planning and Zoning Commission has continued to impose significant increased restrictions for commercial and multi-unit residential properties within Winter Park in both the current approved Comprehensive Plan and proposed land development codes. Important elements of both the Comprehensive Plan and proposed land development codes are effectively designed to preclude, not incent redevelopment in our commercial and multi-unit residential zoned areas. As a result of many shortcomings, I have recommended that the City Commission constitute a new…
Time for change at P&Z
TO: Mayor, Commissioners, and Fellow Citizens FROM: Pete Weldon, 700 Via Lombardy I support neither unfettered private property rights nor unfettered government rights. The only property in Winter Park in which I have any interest is our family home. I continue to believe that the best city in Florida needs rational, experienced, and professional leadership. Our City Commission will be having a “listening session” during their regular 3:30 PM meeting this coming Monday, October 26, 2009 on the subject of building codes unanimously approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on August 18, 2009. Four members of P&Z voted…
Park these thoughts.
Our City Commission voted tonight (Anderson, Dillaha, and Bridges voted YES, Bradley and Diebel voted NO) to proceed with a “conceptual plan” for the post office property with these characteristics: Build a new 6,500 square foot retail post office to USPS specifications on the northern section of the current post office property (approximately 0.85 acres), converting the balance of the current post office property and City right of way to park space (approximately 1.4 acres). Build a new 6,500 square foot distribution center (“carrier annex”) to USPS specifications on City owned land on Denning Drive (approximately 1.5 acres). The City’s…
In the “zone”….
It is my hope that the most wise and thoughtful Winter Park citizens will review these circumstances and get involved with this issue. My last writing on the continuing saga of the post office property ended as follows: “Please contact MayorandCommissioners@cityofwinterpark.org and tell them to stop the misrepresentations and obfuscation. Tell them if they want to buy the post office they should support a referendum seeking the approval of the voters and stop playing games.” Well, today’s meeting offered some hope (see below) but confirmed that the current process is replete with misrepresentations and obfuscation, and that games are being…